A League of Her Own: Real moments are not scripted

Friday

Feb 28, 2014 at 3:29 PMFeb 28, 2014 at 3:29 PM

By Heather HarrisMore Content Now

Iíve always enjoyed following the winter Olympics.I was excited to watch Gracie Gold try for a medal in figure skating and interested to see how my fellow New Hampshirite, skier Bode Miller, would fare at his fifth Olympic games.This year, however, complications with my appendix had me in the hospital during the Olympics. Iím embarrassed to say it, but I pretty much slept through the entire games.While I enjoyed what little action I did see, I was less than impressed with some of the television coverage. Letís just say I think NBC was trying to force stories that werenít always there. Reporters appeared desperate to create ďone moment in timeĒ for their viewers.After Miller won his bronze medal in the Super G, NBC reporter Christin Cooper badgered him to talk about his brother, Chelone, 29, who passed away from a seizure last year.Iím not saying Cooper shouldnít have asked the initial question, thatís just good journalism. But to keep grilling him until he collapsed in tears was awkward and uncomfortable to watch.Too often we try to make things more important or create a bigger story to appear more interesting. Look at Facebook. Everyone is in competition on the ĎBook to make themselves look as fabulous as possible. We are all starring in our own (heavily scripted) reality shows.Granted, I donít want to be assaulted with all the negatives in peopleís lives either, but somewhere in the middle would be nice.What it comes down to is this: I donít find inspiration when something is manufactured. The moments that take my breath away happen without a script.Like when the menís USA hockey team defeated Russia in a shootout. Team USA may not have won a medal in menís hockey, but that preliminary game was awesome. Watching T.J. Oshie go 4 for 6 in the shootout was something Iíll never forget.When you try to make every moment special, then NOTHING is special.I think having emergency surgery reminded me how little control I actually have and gave me a much-needed jolt.Instead of trying to continually create so many picture-perfect memories, I really need to learn to let go and accept the beautiful simplicity that each day offers.Heather Harris is a reporter for the Country Gazette in Massachusetts. A three-sport high school athlete and two-sport college athlete, sports have long been a passion of hers. The mother of two can be seen keeping it real in Mansfield, where she resides. Heather Harris can be reached at hharris@wickedlocal.com.